Picture hanger



"r. F. SMITH PICTURE HANGER Nov. 9, 1948-.

Filed Sept. 28, 1945 Patented Nov. 9, 1948 Application September The present inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in picturehangers, and has for its primary object to provide means-for supporting a picture out of contact with a wall to which the hanger is attached, and also for supporting the picture in a freely swingable position to cause gravitation of the picture in a true perpendicular position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger of this character by means of which the picture may be removed from the hanger without removing the hanger from the wall.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, neat and attractive in appearance, efficient and reliable in use and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on a line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the blank of strap metal from which the hanger is constructed.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the hanger generally which is constructed of astrip of strap metal of the form as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing and bent upwardly at one end along a transverse line indicated at 6 to provide a wall bracket having a vertical attaching backing strip 1 and a forwardly and upwardly projecting arm 8.

A tongue 9 is struck from the upper portion of the attaching strip 1 and is bent horizontally forwardly and formed at its outer end with a downturned lip I0. At the intersection of the lip In with the tongue 9 an opening H is provided through which a nail or similar fastening device I2 is inserted at a downwardly inclined angle through an opening IS in the upper portion of the backing strip 1 for drivinginto a wall or other supporting structure It.

The portion of the upper end of the attaching strip 1 from which the tongue 9 is struck is bent downwardly below the tongue against the front 28,1945, Serial No. 619,066 3 Claims. (01. 248f-28) surface of. the attaching strip 1, as indicated in Figures 1 and}? oflthe drawing, and is then bent forwardlyand downwardlytoiorm a bearing l5 spaced forwardly of the attachin strip 1 and formed at its lower edge with a slot H5 in which the rear end 'of a screw I1 is engaged.

The upper end of the arm 8 isalso formed with l a slot I8 in which the screw I l is supported at its forward portion.

The screw i1 is preferably constructed of a headless type and is provided at its intermediate portion with a plastic or other suitable body !9 in which the screw is embedded.

In the operation of the device, the threaded end of the screw I1 is threaded into the back of the top of a picture frame 20 at the center thereof and the attaching strip 1 of the hanger then secured in a desired position to the wall by means of the nail l2.

The screw I1 is then tilted so as to engage the rear end of the screw in the slot 16 of the bearing [5 and the front portion of the screw is then seated in the slot "3 of the arm 8, the screw thus being supported for free pivotal movement in the bearing l5 and arm 8 and the pictureZD is supported at thefront end of the screw in spaced relation outwardly from the wall 14 in the manner as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The lower end of the picture will then gravitate in the action of a pendulum to support the picture in a true perpendicular position,

It is believed that the details of construction, manner of use and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

It is to be understood, however, that even though I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, the same is susceptible of certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, andthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1.In a hanger for picture frames and the like, a bracket having a backing strip adapted for attaching to a wall or the like, said backing strip having a receiving socket therein, and also having an'arm extending outward from the lower end thereof with an open socket thereon aligned with the socket in the backing strip, a screw adapted for mounting in a picture frame with the axis thereof perpendicular to the surface of the frame, said screw having an enlargement thereon for positioning between the receiving and open sockets of the bracket with the screw freely held in said sockets.

2. In a hanger for picture frames and the like, comprising the combination of a wall bracket adapted to be supported on the face of a wall, and a screw adapted for attaching to the picture frame with said screw extending perpendicularly from the frame, said bracket having oppositely positioned receiving sockets for holding said screw, and means on said screw positioned intermediate of said sockets with the screw in the sockets restraining said screw from accidental separation thereof from the bracket by outward sliding thereof. I

3. A hanger for picture frames and the like,

comprising, the combination of a wall liraclnet adapted to be supported onthe face of the Wall, and a screw adapted for attaching to the picture frame with the said screw extending perpendicu lar from the frame, said bracket having inclined V 0 nail receiving sockets for attachrmerii', rth'ereofto a wall, an inner screw receiving socket, and "a diagonal outwardly projectingarm with a screw .4 a receiving socket at the upper end and aligned with said inner screw receiving socket, and an enlargement on said screw adapted for positiona ing between said sockets with the screw freely held in the sockets restraining said screw from accidental separation thereof from said socket by outward sliding movement thereof.

4 THOMAS F. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED v The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

